The Nibelungenlied
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The Nibelungenlied translated by Margaret Armour In parentheses Publications Medieval German Series Cambridge, Ontario 1999 CONTENTS BOOK I PAGE First AdventureÑConcerning the Nibelungs 4 Second AdventureÑConcerning Siegfried 5 Third AdventureÑHow Siegfried Came to Worms 7 Fourth AdventureÑHow Siegfried Fought with the Saxons 14 Fifth AdventureÑHow Siegfried First Saw Kriemhild 22 Sixth AdventureÑHow Gunther Went to Issland to Woo Brunhild 26 Seventh AdventureÑHow Gunther Won Brunhild 31 Eighth AdventureÑHow Siegfried Journeyed to the Nibelungs 37 Ninth AdventureÑHow Siegfried was Sent to Worms 41 Tenth AdventureÑHow Brunhild was Received at Worms 44 Eleventh AdventureÑHow Siegfried Brought his Wife Home 52 Twelfth AdventureÑHow Gunther Invited Siegfried to the Hightide 55 Thirteenth AdventureÑHow They Rode to the Hightide 59 Fourteenth AdventureÑHow the Queens Quarrelled 62 Fifteenth AdventureÑHow Siegfried was Betrayed 66 Sixteenth AdventureÑHow Siegfried was Slain 70 Seventeenth AdventureÑHow Siegfried was Mourned and Buried 76 Eighteenth AdventureÑHow Siegmund Returned Home 81 Nineteenth AdventureÑHow the Nibelung Hoard Came to Worms 83 Book II Twentieth AdventureÑHow King Etzel Sent to Burgundy for Kriemhild 87 Twenty-first AdventureÑHow Kriemhild Journeyed to the Huns 98 Twenty-second AdventureÑHow She was Received among The Huns 102 Twenty-third AdventureÑHow Kriemhild Thought of Revenging her Wrong 105 PAGE Twenty-fourth AdventureÑHow Werbel and Schwemmel Brought the Message 108 Twenty-fifth AdventureÑHow the Kings Journeyed to the Huns 114 Twenty-sixth AdventureÑHow Dankwart Slew Gelfrat 121 Twenty-seventh AdventureÑHow They Came to Bechlaren 137 Twenty-eighth AdventureÑHow Kriemhild Received Hagen. 130 Twenty-ninth AdventureÑHow Hagen and Folker Sat before KriemhildÕs Hall 133 Thirtieth AdventureÑHow Hagen and Folker Kept Watch 138 Thirty-first AdventureÑHow the Burgundians went to Church 140 Thirty-second AdventureÑHow Bloedel Fought with Dankwart in the Hall 145 Thirty-third AdventureÑHow Dankwart Brought the News to his Masters 148 Thirty-fourth AdventureÑHow They Threw Down the Dead 152 Thirty-fifth AdventureÑHow Iring was Slain 154 Thirty-sixth AdventureÑHow the Queen Bade Them Burn Down the Hall 157 Thirty-seventh AdventureÑHow Rudeger was Slain 161 Thirty-eighth AdventureÑHow DietrichÕs Knights were All Slain 168 Thirty-ninth AdventureÑHow Gunther, Hagen, and Kriemhild were Slain 174 Book I First Adventure: Concerning The Nibelungs In old tales they tell us many wonders of heroes and of high courage, of glad feasting, of wine and of mourning; and herein ye shall read of the marvellous deeds and of the strife of brave men. There grew up in Burgundy a noble maiden, in no land was a fairer. Kriemhild was her name. Well favoured was the damsel, and by reason of her died many warriors. Doughty knights in plenty wooed her, as was meet, for of her body she was exceeding comely, and her virtues were an adornment to all women. Three kings noble and rich guarded her, Gunther and Gernot, warriors of fame, and Giselher the youth, a chosen knight. The damsel was their sister, and the care of her fell on them. These lords were courteous and of high lineage, bold and very strong, each of them the pick of knights. The name of their country was Burgundy, and they did great deeds, after, in EtzelÕs land. At Worms, by the Rhine, they dwelled in might with many a proud lord for vassal. Their mother was a rich queen and hight Uta, and the name of their father was Dankrat, who, when his life was ended, left them his lands. A strong man was he in his time, and one that in his youth won great worship. These three princes, as I have said, were valiant men, overlords of the best knights that folk have praised, strong and bold and undismayed in strife. There were Hagen of Trony, and also his brother Dankwart the swift; and Ortwin of Metz; the two Margraves, Gary and Eckewart; Volker of Alzeia, strong of body; Rumolt, the steward, a chosen knight; Sindolt and Hunolt. These last three served at court and pursued honour. And other knights were there, more than I can name. Dankwart was the marshal; the nephew of Ortwin of Metz carved at the board; Sindolt was the butler, a worthy warrior: each did his part as a good knight. The splendour of this court and its might, the high valour and chivalry of its lords, were a tale without end. Now it so fell that Kriemhild, the pure maid, dreamed a dream that she fondled a wild falcon, and eagles wrested it from her; the which to see grieved her more than any ill that had happened to her heretofore. This dream she told to Uta, her mother, who interpreted it on this wise. ÒThe falcon that thou sawest is a noble man; yet if God keep him not, he is a lost man to thee.Ó 4 ÒWhat speakest thou to me of a man, mother mine? Without their love would I still abide, that I may remain fair till my death, nor suffer dole from any manÕs love.Ó Said her mother then, ÒBe not so sure; for wouldst thou ever on this earth have heartÕs gladness, it cometh from the love of a man. And a fair wife wilt thou be, if God but lead hither to thee a true and trusty knight.Ó ÒSay not so, mother mine,Ó answered the maiden, Òfor on many a woman, and oft hath it been proven, that the meed of love is sorrow. From both I will keep me, that evil betide not.Ó Long in such wise abode the high, pure maiden, nor thought to love any. Nevertheless, at the last, she wedded a brave man; that was the falcon she dreamed of erstwhile, as her mother foretold it. Yea, bitter was her vengeance on her kinsmen that slew him, and by reason of his death died many a motherÕs son. Second Adventure: Concerning Siegfried There grew up in the Netherland a rich kingÕs child, whose father hight Siegmund and his mother Sieglind, in a castle high and famous called Xanten, down by the RhineÕs side. Goodly was this knight, by my troth, his body without blemish, a strong and valiant man of great worship; abroad, through the whole earth, went his fame. The hero hight Siegfried, and he rode boldly into many lands. Ha! in Burgundy, I trow, he found warriors to his liking. Or he was a man grown he had done marvels with his hand, as is said and sung, albeit now there is no time for more word thereof. Of his best days there were many wonders to tell, how he waxed in goodliness and honour; his, too, was the love of women. As was seemly for such an one, his breeding was well seen to, and of his nature, likewise, he was virtuous. His fatherÕs land was famed for his worth, for in all things he was right noble. When he was of an age to ride to the court, the people saw him gladly, and wedded wives and maids were alike fain that he should tarry there. By order of Siegmund and Sieglind he was richly clad, and without guards he was suffered not to ride abroad. They that had him in charge were wise men versed in honour, to the end that he might win thereby liegemen and lands. 5 Now was he grown a stark youth, of stature and strength to bear weapons; he lacked nothing needful thereto, and inclined him already to the wooing of women. Nor did these find the fair youth amiss. So Siegmund his father cried a hightide, and word thereof came to the kingdoms that were round about. To strangers and to friends alike he gave horses and apparel, and wheresoever they found one of knightly birth, that youth they bade to the hightide, to be dubbed a knight with Siegfried. Many wonders might one tell of that hightide, and rightly Siegmund and Sieglind won glory from the gifts of their hand, by reason whereof a multitude rode into the land. To four hundred sworded knights and to Siegfried was given rich apparel. Full many a fair damsel ceased not from working with her needle for his sake. Precious stones without stint they set in gold, and embroidered them with silk on the vest of the proud youth. He was little loth thereto. And the king bade them set places for many a hero the mid-summer that Siegfried became a knight. The rich squires and great knights drew to the minster. Meet is it that the old help the young, even as they in their day were holpen. The time sped in merriment and sports. First, God to honour, they sang mass. Then the people pressed in hard to behold the youths dubbed knights with such pomp and high observance as we see not the like of nowadays. Then they ran where they found saddled horses. And the noise of tourney was so great at SiegmundÕs court that palace and hall echoed therewith, for there was a mighty din of heroes. From old and young came the noise of hurtling and of broken shafts whizzing in the air; and from warring hands flew splintered lances as far as the castle; men and women looked on at the sport. Then the king bade stay the tilting. And they led off the horses. Many shields lay broken, and, strewed on the grass, were jewels from shining bucklers, fallen in the fray. The guests went in and sat down as they were bidden, and over the choice meats and good wine, drunk to the full, they parted from their weariness. Friends and strangers were entreated with equal honour. Albeit they ceased not from tilting all the day, the mummers and the minstrels took no rest, but sang for gold and got it; wherefore they praised the land of Siegmund.